WATER TUBING, A GREAT FUN ACTIVITY

I have a web tradition whenever I create a profile in any site whether it's blog or Matrimonial(before marriage), I never forget to add this single statement. It is "I am fun loving guy..." I know its a broad statement. What type of fun you might ask?! I am not the type of guy who likes to hit the bar every other nite, have a few bottle of beer, play pool, go to disco, dance with strangers. I know its nothing wrong with that but I am not that type of a guy.

According to me, having fun is all about indulging myself into more active rather adventures physical sport most likely outdoors. I love nature and like to enjoy the mother nature creations. So whether its about spring or summer activities like hiking, trekking, camping, rafting or winter sports like skiing, skating I am up for it. I hate to be a couch potato. I don't like to waste time sitting around watching the idiot box all day. My wife is starting to agree with me(she doesn't do this always) more lately and wanting to go out after babysitting our 1 year old son every day.

Simple Plan

This time I wanted to try water sport if it wasn't raining. TUBING sounds exciting. I been wanting to go TUBING on the river for long time actually since I saw the ad banner about tubing in New Braunfels near Houston. It does seem exciting isn't it but it scares a bit for a non-swimmer. I did know bit of swimming for bragging sake it doesn't mean I am an expert. But I didn't care, I like to take chances to enjoy the thrill ride.

But wife was wary of her decision. She said, she will stay out and rather not take risk which I felt wasn't good. I just decided to convince her when we get there. Trip without friends is no fun. So I started recruiting couple of my friends who like to join us with their family for this thrill ride. Ladies huddled over the phone to pack a good food for the picnic.

Ready, Set, Go

We are all set for the day trip. We met in one place near main highway, car pooled to save some gas (I can also say contributed a bit on saving nature). We headed to City of New Braunfels which is like 2 and hour drive from houston if you drive at the average speed of 70miles per hour watching over COPS muling those high speeders.

We reached the place around 11:30am or so. I saw all Americans in their very beach outfits for the water ride especially ladies in just mere clothing to cover their spots. Our ladies felt little uncomfortable and they were the only ones in the whole area to be fully covered. I did tell my wife to dress properly since its water sport but she didn't mind. I am like "When in Rome, be a Roman", always prepared(previous experiences comes in handy you know).

Everybody was hungry when we reached the place especially kids. So Ladies just opened the tiffins and started the first mission. We all slurpured some good variety food. Food is over, now the next mission for excitement starts. As usual, I initiated the task of finding a good cheap place to rent tubes. They are tubes like truck tubes like one below.

I am not sure how many know. Cars in US don't have tubes seperately like we do in India. Its all built inside the tire itself. So these tubes are brand new tubes for this sport purpose only. I found a cheap deal of $12/person per tube. Everybody is all set to jump on the Comal river with their tubes.

Fun Starts

Now comes the hard decision for me. My 1 year old can't go so whether its me or my wife staying out. She been telling all along, she will stay out and won't risk. After seeing her friends and other people having fun. She is now thinking back in different way. I read her mind so being a nice guy opted out to be with my son. I know its big blow for my excitment. Afterall, she is my wife and she wants break more than anybody. So I just let her go first. It will be just Father and Son time. My wife didn't expect that but happy to go with her friends. I was promised by friend to join me for another ride when they come back.

Unfortunately, I forgot take pics and so here some pics from web on comal river tubing.

They start tubing from one end of the river and float with the flow of the river using your hand as the paddle. The water is so green my wife thought its junk water actually a river water feed by natural spring. This Comal river is named one of the shortest river 2.5km in the world by "Ripley's believe it or not", interesting!!! (I came to know while creating this blog)

So I end up spending good time with my son, taking him on a car ride to city visitor center and then to park named "Landa Park" nearby which also as the river flowing all over it. It was really like natural river park I should say. After 2 hours of wating, they all finally came back after great fun excited ride. Looks like my wife had a blast.

I was Close to getting Drowned

Now its my turn and I can't wait to Jump in the water. One of my friends joined me for the ride. I did wore the life jacket to be safe than sorry. It was good to be on the water afterall, as promised my friend joined me. It was a slow ride for 20 mins are so and I didn't realize the fun chute is waiting for me. I was already to take the flung. Something hinted my mind, be careful. Here the start of the chute,

It curves around to add force to the water.

Water just pushing you and drops in this big outlet.

When I got out, I was flipped by the gushing water from the tube. I am down in the water waiting to be saved. That moment, I fought for my life. I went inside the water few times. I know I have lifevest and won't die but still fear stuck me. I just held on to the tube and it just took where the flow of water went. My friend called for an help. There were lot of guards and I guess they are used this kind of thing. They know I will end up safe since I had the vest. Water just pushed me to the side and I finally got hand from guard who was standing on the shore to get me the to the sides. I got out and breath hard for few secs

I just couldn't imagine what happened. Man, I tell you that was one heck of a ride and life threatening experience. I was so close to getting drowned. My friend found me and asked whether I am ok. Yeah, I replied OK. That didn't stop me take the trip again. There is short cut to go to the other side and try just the chute again. As we talked before we went and took the chute. This time I got some tips and held on to the tube firmly. It was indeed fun ride this time.

We decided to stop and go back to halt location where everybody was waiting for us. We left and reached Houston back. While we come back, everybody was talking all about the good time. All of us had a blast and plans are already on for going back again, may be next year.

Life is short, don't sit around and waste, have some fun...